This invention relates to antimicrobial polyester-containing articles and methodology for the preparation of antimicrobial polyester-containing articles utilizing chitosan and chitosan-metal complexes as the antimicrobial agent.
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1. A method for preparing an antimicrobial polyester-containing article having chitosan grafted thereon comprising the sequential steps of:
(a) providing a polyester-containing article;
(b) contacting the polyester-containing article with a basic solution;
(c) optionally, washing the article produced in step (b);
(d) contacting the article produced in step (b) or step (c) with a strong mineral acid solution;
(e) optionally, washing the article produced in step (d);
(f) contacting the article produced in step (d) or step (e) with a solution comprising a chitosan agent selected from the group consisting of chitosan, chitosan salts and chitosan derivatives wherein the chitosan is grafted thereon the polyester-containing article;
(g) optionally, heating the article produced in step (f);
(h) isolating the article produced instep (f) or step (g); and
(i) optionally, heating the article isolated in step (h) at a temperature higher than the temperature employed in step (g).
2. A method for producing an antimicrobial polyester-containing article having chitosan grafted thereon comprising the sequential steps of:
(a) providing a feed station on which is disposed a polyester-containing article and a take-up station capable of receiving the polyester-containing article;
(b) drawing the article from the feed station through a first treatment station wherein said article is exposed to a basic solution;
(c) optionally, drawing the step (b)-treated article through a second treatment station wherein the article is exposed to water;
(d) drawing the step (b)- or step (c)-treated article through a third treatment station wherein the article is exposed to a strong mineral acid solution;
(e) optionally, drawing the step (d)-treated article through a fourth treatment station wherein the article is exposed to deionized water;
(f) drawing the step (d)- or step (e)-treated article through a fifth treatment station wherein the article is exposed to a solution comprising a chitosan agent selected from the group consisting of chitosan, chitosan salts and chitosan derivatives wherein the chitosan is grafted thereon the polyester-containing article;
(g) optionally, heating the step (f)-treated article after it exits the fifth treatment station; and
(h) causing the step (f)- or step (g)-treated article to be received on and accumulate on the take-up station.
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This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/143,380, filed May 10, 2002 now abandoned (which is incorporated in its entirety as a part hereof), which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/290,297, filed May 11, 2001.
This invention relates to antimicrobial polyester-containing articles and methodology for the preparation of antimicrobial polyester-containing articles utilizing chitosan and chitosan-metal complexes as the antimicrobial agent.
This invention relates to the use of chitosan and chitosan-metal complexes to generate polyester-containing articles having antimicrobial properties.
PCT application WO 00/49219 discloses the preparation of substrates with biocidal properties. The deposition of solubilized chitosan on polyester, among other materials, followed by treatment with silver salts, reduction of the silver salt and crosslinking the chitosan is disclosed to yield a durable biocidal article. The application also discloses the crosslinking of the chitosan after it is applied, either before or after the silver salt treatment.
JP Kokai H9-291478 discloses a process for the application of a chitosan derivative to polyester fabric comprising UV treatment of the polyester fabric followed by application of a chitosan-derived quaternary ammonium base. The UV irradiation serves to generate free radicals on the surface of the polyester fabric to which the chitosan is subsequently attached. H. Shin et al, Sen-I Gakkaishi, 54(8), 400–406 (1998) discloses similar UV fabric treatment and also a low temperature air plasma treatment prior to chitosan treatment.
JP Kokai H8-22772 discloses a process for the manufacture of an antibacterial acrylic yarn which comprises dipping, in an aqueous acidic chitosan solution, a wet spun yarn from an acrylonitrile-based polymer solution, neutralizing with an aqueous alkali solution, drying and densifying. The process may be carried out batch-wise or continuously. The chitosan is absorbed on the surface of the yarn and deposited in micro-voids within the yarn before drying.
S. Matsukawa et al., Sen-I Gakkaishi, 51(1), 51–56 (1995) disclose the modification of polyester fabrics using chitosan. The polyester was hydrolyzed with caustic soda, neutralized with 1% acetic acid solution, then treated with a chitosan solution and, optionally, with a crosslinking agent.
This invention provides an antimicrobial polyester-containing article having chitosan grafted onto the article and optionally, containing one or more metal salts, one or more carboxyl-containing polymers or combination thereof.
Further disclosed is a process for preparing antimicrobial polyester-containing articles comprising the sequential steps of:
Further disclosed is a continuous process for producing an antimicrobial polyester-containing article comprising the sequential steps of:
The drawings consist of 20 figures as follows:
The present invention involves the preparation of antimicrobial polyester-containing articles that have chitosan grafted thereon. Chitosan is the commonly used name for poly-[1-4]-β-D-glucosamine. Chitosan is chemically derived from chitin, which is a poly-[1-4]-β-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine which, in turn, is derived from the cell walls of fungi, the shells of insects and, especially, crustaceans. As used herein, the term “grafted” means that the chitosan is bound to the polyester substrate by either ionic (electrostatic) or covalent bonding. Grafting of the chitosan to the polyester article may be confirmed by Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA) [see, for example, Xin Qu, Anders Wirsen, Bjorn Orlander, Anne-Christine Albertsson, Polymer Bulletin, (2001), vol. 46., pp. 223–229 and Huh, M. W., Kang, I., Lee, D. H., Kim, W. S., Lee, D. H., Park, L. S., Mln, K. E., and Seo, K. H., J. Appl. Polym. Sci. (2001), vol. 81, p. 2769]. Grafting is also established by the literature report of Ga-er Yu, Frederick G. Morin, Geffory A. R. Nobes, and Robert H. Marchessault, in Macromolecules, (1999), vol. 32, pp. 518–520). ESCA data demonstrate that the chitosan-modified surfaces of the polyester-containing articles of the present invention are similar in composition to those of the chitosan starting materials. The ESCA data also show that these surfaces have a significant level of nitrogen that is incorporated in a salt form, which provides evidence that the chitosan in physically linked to the surface through ionic interactions.
Polyesters comprise those polymers prepared from diols and dicarboxylic acids. Dicarboxylic acids useable in the preparation of polyesters include, but are not limited to, unsubstituted and substituted aromatic, aliphatic, unsaturated, and alicyclic dicarboxylic acids and the lower alkyl esters of dicarboxylic acids having from 2 carbons to 36 carbons. Specific examples of the desirable dicarboxylic acid component include terephthalic acid, dimethyl terephthalate, isophthalic acid, dimethyl isophthalate, 2,6-napthalene dicarboxylic acid, dimethyl-2,6-naphthalate, 2,7-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, dimethyl-2,7-naphthalate, 3,4′-diphenyl ether dicarboxylic acid, dimethyl-3,4′diphenyl ether dicarboxylate, 4,4′-diphenyl ether dicarboxylic acid, dimethyl-4,4′-diphenyl ether dicarboxylate, 3,4′-diphenyl sulfide dicarboxylic acid, dimethyl-3,4′-diphenyl sulfide dicarboxylate, 4,4′-diphenyl sulfide dicarboxylic acid, dimethyl-4,4′-diphenyl sulfide dicarboxylate, 3,4′-diphenyl sulfone dicarboxylic acid, dimethyl-3,4′-diphenyl sulfone dicarboxylate, 4,4′-diphenyl sulfone dicarboxylic acid, dimethyl-4,4′-diphenyl sulfone dicarboxylate, 3,4′-benzophenonedicarboxylic acid, dimethyl-3,4′-benzophenonedicarboxylate, 4,4′-benzophenonedicarboxylic acid, dimethyl-4,4′-benzophenonedicarboxylate, 1,4-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, dimethyl-1,4-naphthalate, 4,4′-methylene bis(benzoic acid), dimethyl-4,4′-methylenebis(benzoate), oxalic acid, dimethyl oxalate, malonic acid, dimethyl malonate, succinic acid, dimethyl succinate, methylsuccinic acid, glutaric acid, dimethyl glutarate, 2-methylglutaric acid, 3-methylglutaric acid, adipic acid, dimethyl adipate, 3-methyladipic acid, 2,2,5,5-tetramethylhexanedioic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, dimethyl azelate, sebacic acid, 1,1 1-undecanedicarboxylic acid, 1,10-decanedicarboxylic acid, undecanedioic acid, 1,12-dodecanedicarboxylic acid, hexadecanedioic acid, docosanedioic acid, tetracosanedioic acid, dimer acid, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, dimethyl-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate, 1,3-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedicarboxylate, 1,1-cyclohexanediacetic acid, metal salts of 5-sulfo-dimethylisophalate, fumaric acid, maleic anhydride, maleic acid, hexahydrophthalic acid, phthalic acid and the like and mixtures derived therefrom.
Diols useful in the preparation of polyesters include, but are not limited to, unsubstituted, substituted, straight chain, branched, cyclic aliphatic, aliphatic-aromatic or aromatic diols having from 2 carbon atoms to 36 carbon atoms. Specific examples of the desirable diol component include ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,2-, 1,3- and 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentane diol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol, 1,10-decanediol, 1,12-dodecanediol, 1,14-tetradecanediol, 1,16-hexadecanediol, dimer diol, isosorbide, 4,8-bis (hydroxymethyl)-tricyclo [5.2.1.0/2.6]decane, 1,2-, 1,3- and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, and the longer chain diols and polyols made by the reaction product of diols or polyols with alkylene oxides including di(ethylene glycol), tri(ethylene glycol), poly(ethylene ether) glycols, poly(butylene ether) glycols and the like and mixtures derived therefrom.
The preferred polyesters useful herein are poly(ethylene terephthalate) (“2GT”), poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (“3GT”), and blends and copolymers thereof.
The term “polyester-containing article” as used herein means an article that has a surface composition of at least 10% polyester by area.
In apparel applications, garments comprising polyester often include other components, such as acrylic, wool, silk, cotton, linen, flax, hemp, rayon, cellulose, wood pulp, cellulose acetate or triacetate, nylon 6 or nylon 66, poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (‘PMIA,’ available from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del., U.S.A. under the trademark Nomex®), poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (‘PPTA,’ available from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company under the trademark Kevlar®), polyolefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, fiberglass, Lycra® spandex (available from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company), and elastomers. Polyesters other than poly(ethylene terephthalate) may also be present, for example, a copolymer with a low melt temperature that is used as a binder fiber in fiberfill.
Combination of the fibers listed above can be used in the present invention for added benefits. Such fiber combinations can be prepared by any means known to those skilled in the art. “Bicomponent” filaments in which two polymers are arranged side-by-side or in a sheath-core arrangement can be formed during the spinning process. 2GT/3GT bicomponent fibers such as are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,671,379, herein incorporated by reference, are one example useful in the present invention.
Another means of preparing fiber combinations is by intimate blending of staple fibers; i.e., as the staple yarn is spun, the different fibers can be combined in either a carding or drawing process. Fiber combinations can also be prepared by knitting or weaving yarns, staple, or filament of different composition into the same fabric. In the case of Lycra® spandex (E. I. de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del.), the spandex is added in staple yarn at either the spinning step or during fabric production, such as plating in knitting.
As a first step of the process of the present invention, polyester-containing articles are pretreated. This pretreatment involves hydrolyzing the surface of said polyester-containing article to prepare it for subsequent attachment of chitosan groups. The pretreatment is achieved by the hydrolytic rupture of some of the ester bonds in the polyester-containing articles to generate carboxylate groups.
The hydrolysis treatment involves exposure of the polyester-containing article to an aqueous solution of a base. All soluble Group I, II, and III hydroxides, ammonium hydroxide, and alkyl-substituted ammonium hydroxides can be used to effect hydrolysis. The base can be dissolved in water or a mixture of water with one or more water-soluble organic solvents. Examples of suitable water-soluble organic solvents include methanol, ethanol, propanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, acetonitrile, dimethylformamide, and dimethylacetamide.
The base useful in the invention is typically an alkali metal hydroxide, most preferably sodium hydroxide. The concentration of base in the aqueous solution is not critical and depends on the base being used and the treatment temperature. In the case of sodium hydroxide, the concentration may range from 1 to 40% by weight. The temperature of the treatment is not critical, room temperature being preferred. Temperature ranges of 10 to 90° C. may be employed. Lower temperature is preferred with the higher concentrations of base. The article is exposed to the basic solution long enough to reduce its weight by from 1 to 30 percent, preferably by from 1 to 10 percent. The treatment time will depend on the concentration and temperature of the basic solution; the higher the concentration of the base solution, and the higher the temperature employed the shorter the time of treatment. Times as low as 2 to 30 seconds can be employed successfully. Optionally, the article is then washed with water to remove the bulk of the base solution.
Following the hydrolysis treatment, the article is acidified by treatment with strong mineral acid to a pH of less than or equal to the pKa of the carboxylate groups generated by the hydrolysis treatment. The article can be directly acidified with aqueous mineral or organic acids without the involvement of water washing. However, aqueous washing is preferred to minimize the use of acids. As used herein, the term “strong” mineral acid, means acids having a pH less than pH 2. Mineral acids useful herein include, for example, hydrochloric, sulfuric and phosphoric acids. Hydrochloric acid is most preferred. The time and temperature of the acidification step are not critical; times ranging from 2 seconds to 30 minutes at room temperature can be employed successfully.
Optionally, the article is again washed with water to remove the bulk of the mineral acid. The article may then be used directly in the next step, or may, optionally, be dried.
While not desiring to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the acidification below the pKa of the carboxylate groups, resulting in the formation of the free carboxylic acid group, greatly increases the rate and efficacy of the reaction of the carboxyl species with chitosan in the subsequent step.
Following the acidification step, the article is treated with chitosan. This comprises soaking or wetting the article with a solution containing a chitosan agent. The term “chitosan agent” as used herein means all chitosan-based moieties, including chitosan, chitosan salt, and chitosan derivatives. The solution comprising the chitosan agent may be aqueous. However, since chitosan by itself is not soluble in water, the chitosan may be solubilized in a solution. Solubility is obtained by adding the chitosan to a dilute solution of a water-soluble, organic acid selected from the group consisting of mono-, di- and polycarboxylic acids. This allows the chitosan to react with the acid to form a water-soluble salt, herein referred to as “chitosan salt.” Alternatively, “chitosan derivatives,” including N- and O-carboxyalkyl chitosan, that are water-soluble, can be used directly in water instead of chitosan salt. . The chitosan may also be dissolved in special solvents like dimethylacetamide in the presence of lithium chloride, or N-methyl-morpholine-N-oxide. Such solubilized chitosan solutions can be used in the present invention instead of aqueous solutions containing chitosan salt or chitosan derivatives.
Typically, the chitosan solution is an aqueous acetic acid solution, for example, an aqueous solution containing 2% chitosan and 0.75% acetic acid or 2% chitosan and 1.5% aqueous acetic acid. The time of treatment is typically 5 to 30 minutes. The temperature of the treatment is not critical, room temperature being preferred. After treatment with chitosan solution, excess solution may be allowed to drip out, or may be removed by wringing or spinning.
Optionally, the treated article is then dried via oven drying or a combination of ambient air drying and oven drying.
Articles prepared by the above methods exhibit antimicrobial properties. The term “antimicrobial” as used herein, means both bactericidal and fungicidal. In addition, the fibers and yarns processed herein exhibit favorable physical properties with respect to tenacity, elongation and hand-feel.
Said antimicrobial properties may, optionally, be further enhanced by treatment with soluble metal salts, for example, soluble silver salts, soluble copper salts and soluble zinc salts. The preferred metal salts of the invention are aqueous solutions of zinc sulfate, copper sulfate or silver nitrate. The metal salts are typically applied by dipping or padding a dilute (0.1 to 5%) solution of salt in water. The degree of enhancement depends on the particular metal salt used, its concentration, the time and temperature of exposure, and the specific chitosan treatment, that is, the type of chitosan agent, its concentration, the temperature, and the time of exposure. Examples 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7;
Articles prepared by the above method of the invention also exhibit improved antistatic properties. Antistatic properties refer to the ability of a textile material to disperse an electrostatic charge and to prevent the buildup of static electricity. (Dictionary of Fiber & Textile Technology, Hoechst Celanese Corp., Charlotte, N.C. (1990), p. 8)
A further optional post-treatment comprises applying a carboxyl-containing polymer to the chitosan treated article, or to the metal salt treated chitosan treated article. The term “carboxyl-containing polymer” as used herein means a polymer that contains carboxylic acid groups in side chains attached to the polymer backbone. The carboxyl-containing polymer, most preferably polyacrylic acid, is typically applied from a dilute aqueous solution by dipping or padding.
Any of the above described chitosan-treated articles, metal salt-treated articles or the carboxyl-containing polymer-treated articles, may benefit from a further chitosan solution treatment. Included within the scope of this invention are articles that, having received a first treatment with chitosan by the process of the present invention, are further subjected to one or more treatments with metal salt, carboxyl-containing polymer and/or additional chitosan in any order, with the proviso that the surface of the final article is treated with metal salt or a chitosan solution.
In a preferred embodiment, the process of the invention further involves heating the chitosan-grafted polyester-containing article to a temperature of from 35° C. to 190° C. under a nitrogen or ambient atmosphere for from 30 seconds to 20 hours, washing with deionized water and further drying the article at a temperature of 35° C. to 190° C. for from 30 seconds to 20 hours.
The articles of the present invention can also be produced in a continuous process. The process is illustrated by
The feed station, treatment stations, heaters, and take-up components may be any convenient means known in the art for continuous treatment of fibers and yarns (see, for example, Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, fifth Edition, Wolfgang Gerhartz, Executive Editor, Volume A10, VCH Verlagsgesellschaftg, Weinheim, Federal Republic of Germany (1987), “Fibers, 3. General Production Technology,” H. Lucker, W. Kagi, U. Kemp, and W. Stibal, pp. 511–566). The continuous process is particularly appropriate for treating polyester-containing fiber or yarn on a commercial scale.
The process and articles of the present invention do not employ crosslinking agents which makes the process more efficient and economical than other currently available processes requiring the use of crosslinking agents. The phrase “crosslinking agent” connotes the commonly used di- or tri-functional crosslinking agents known in the art. The carboxyl-containing polymers, e.g. polyacrylic acids, are not construed to be crosslinking agents in the context of the present invention.
The preferred articles of the present invention are in the form of fibers; fabrics, including wovens and nonwovens; filaments; films; and articles and constructs prepared therefrom.
The antimicrobial articles of the invention shall find application in uses such as apparel, including sportswear, activewear, intimate apparel, swimwear and medical garments; healthcare, including medical drapes, antimicrobial wipes, surfaces (counters, floors, walls), personal hygiene products and medical packaging; household articles, including fiberfill, bedding, window treatments and surfaces; and food processing/service, including packaging, absorbent antimicrobial pads for meat packaging, antimicrobial wipes and surfaces.
Materials and Methods
The following fiber-based materials were used in the following Examples. Woven and knit fabrics were also tested as outlined in the Examples.
The chitosan materials used in this study were obtained as commercially available from Primex Ingredients ASA, Norway under the trademark Chitoclear® chitosan and were used as purchased.
All Examples demonstrate the use of chitosan salt, i.e., chitosan dissolved in acetic acid as the chitosan agent of the invention.
Treated articles were tested for antimicrobial properties by the Shake Flask Test for Antimicrobial Testing of Materials, as follows:
The pH of the phosphate buffer was adjusted to pH 6.0 to 7.0 with either NaOH or HCl. The stock phosphate buffer was filtered, sterilized, and stored at 4° C. until use. The working phosphate buffer was prepared by diluting 1 ml of stock phosphate buffer in 800 ml of sterile deionized water.
Polyester fabrics (8 inch×9 inch; 3GT fabric weighing 21.8 g, 2GT fabric weighing 19.5 g) were soaked in 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and gently shaken for 90 min. Each was then washed with water and soaked in 1 M aqueous hydrochloric acid solution for 30 min, washed with deionized water and dried in air for 1 h. Each was then immersed in 2 weight % aqueous chitosan solution (mol. wt. 75,000,) containing 1.5% acetic acid for 30 min, The chitosan used in Example 1 was food grade Chitoclear® chitosan (Primex Ingredients ASA, Norway). The degree of N-deacetylation of this sample was over 90% and this was ascertained by proton and carbon 13 NMR spectroscopy. The molecular weight of this sample was estimated using standard relative viscosity measurements as reported in the literature. The excess chitosan was allowed to drip, air dried for an hour and then dried at 85° C. for 16 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The weights of the chitosan-grafted fabrics were: 3GT, 24.06 g; 2GT, 21.32 g. The fabrics were then washed with water and dried at 80° C. for 16 h to give a 3GT sample weighing 23.3 g and a 2GT sample weighing 20.6 g (6.8 and 5.6% chitosan incorporation, respectively). These fabrics were tested for their antimicrobial efficacy as described above.
Chitosan grafted onto 2GT and 3GT polyester fabrics demonstrated at least a 3-log reduction of the following microorganisms in 4–6 h:
Chitosan samples with degree of de-N-acetylation of over 80% and mol. wt. in the range of 950,000 (Pfansteihl, U.S.A.), 630,000 (Sigma Chemical Company, U.S.A.), 290,000 (Kitomer, Canada), 104,000 (Chitoclear®, industrial grade, Primex Ingredients ASA, Norway), 83,000 (Chitoclear®, industrial grade, Primex Ingredients ASA, Norway), 74,000 (Chitoclear®, food grade, Primex Ingredients ASA, Norway), 39,000 (Chitoclear®, food grade, Primex Ingredients ASA, Norway), and 33,000 (Chitoclear®, food grade, Primex Ingredients ASA, Norway) were grafted onto polyester fabrics in order to evaluate the effect of chitosan molecular weight on the antimicrobial activity. A 1% solution of each commercial chitosan in 0.75% aqueous acetic acid was used in the grafting procedure as described in Example 1. As shown in
Chitosan grafted 3GT woven fabric (22.8 g), prepared according to the procedure of Example 1 was soaked in 2% aqueous silver nitrate solution for 30 min, extensively washed with water, and dried at 37° C. for 16 h. Weight of the resultant fabric was 23.0 g.
Similarly, chitosan grafted 3GT knit fabric (23.1 g), prepared according to the procedure of Example 1 was treated with 2% copper sulfate solution as described above to obtained copper doped fabric, (23.7 g).
As indicated by the results obtained, metal doping of chitosan-grafted polyester may be used to enhance antimicrobial activity. Silver nitrate (
Chitosan grafted onto 2GT and 3GT polyester, followed by doping with metals has demonstrated at least a 3-log reduction of the following microorganisms, which are known to be more resistant to antimicrobials, in 4–6 h:
Preparation of Chitosan Grafted Fabrics After Treated With Various Concentrations of Silver Nitrate Solution
2GT knit fabrics in the form of (five) socks were soaked in water, the excess water drained, and then treated with 40% aqueous sodium hydroxide for 2 min. These socks were then extensively washed with water and soaked in 1M aqueous hydrochloric acid for 2 min, then washed with water. This was followed by immersing the socks in aqueous 1% chitosan (Chitoclear®, food grade, mol. wt. 74,000, Primex Ingredients ASA, Norway) solution containing 0.75% acetic acid for 2 min, then excess solution allowed to drain followed by drying the socks at 85° C. for 16 h under nitrogen. These dried samples were washed again with water and re-dried.
Four samples were, respectively, treated with aqueous 0.5%, 0.25%, 0.125%, and 0.0625% silver nitrate solution for 2 min., washed with water and dried at 45 C. for 16 h. The antimicrobial activity of these 4 samples and the “chitosan-only” control were then evaluated.
Samples of 2GT fibers were hydrolyzed and treated with 2% chitosan by the procedure of Example 4 except that the chitosan treatment time was 0.5, 1 or 2 minutes, respectively. Portions of each of these three samples were then treated with a 0.1% silver nitrate solution as in Example 4.
Samples of 3GT chitosan grafted fabrics, with and without silver nitrate treatment (3GT samples prepared in Example 3 and Example 1, respectively), were subjected to five AATCC RA 88 “C” wash cycles. Table 1 below shows the results of an E. coli ATCC 25922 shake flask test on these washed 3GT fabrics. The Δt is the log reduction between the inoculum control and the test material. As shown in Table 1, all chitosan and chitosan+silver-treated fabrics reduced the viable population of E. coli ATCC 25922 by at least 3 logs after 4 h of exposure.
TABLE 1
3GT woven fabrics prepared with grafted chitosan with and
without a silver nitrate post treatment vs. E. coli ATCC 25922.
Fabric
Δt after 1 h
Δt after 4 h
3GT Control, unwashed
0.000
0.000
3GT Control, washed
0.267
0.160
3GT + Chitosan, unwashed
4.869
5.415
3GT + Chitosan, washed
2.313
3.813
3GT + Chitosan + Ag, unwashed
5.568
5.415
3GT + Chitosan + Ag, washed
5.568
5.415
Two pieces of scoured socks (5.56 g and 5.9 g respectively) of 2GT polyester fabrics were grafted with 2% chitosan solution as described in Example 1 to generate chitosan grafted fabrics (weight after grafting was 6.2 g and 6.6 g, respectively). This latter piece of fabric (6.6 g) was then soaked with 0.5% silver nitrate solution, washed with water and dried at 37° C. for 16 h. Weight of the dried fabric was 6.6 g. For comparative purposes, free chitosan powder was tested as is in the shake flask test.
Four 2GT knit fabrics (samples A–D, 19.5, 18.8,19.5, 19.7 g, respectively) were grafted with chitosan as described in Example 1. Weight of the products A–D were 21.3, 20.4, 21.2, and 21.1 g, respectively.
Fabric samples A and B were dipped in 2% polyacrylic acid solution for 30 min, air dried and washed with water and then dried at 80° C. to give chitosan polyacrylic acid coated fabrics A′ (21.5 g) and B′ (20.6 g).
Part of fabric A′ (10.3 g) was treated again with 2% chitosan solution and dried at 85° C. for 16 h followed by washing with water and dried to give A″ (10.5 g). Another part of A′ (11.2 g) was dipped in 2% silver nitrate solution for 30 min, washed with water and dried at 37° C. for 16 h. to give A′″. Weight of A′″ was 11.02 g.
The chitosan chemistry described in the above examples can be applied to fibers as well as fabrics using standard fiber processing equipment. The preparation of antimicrobial fibers by performing the caustic hydrolysis, acidification, and chitosan grafting steps in a package dyer, as well as by performing the caustic hydrolysis and acidification in a package dyer and the chitosan grafting step in a single-end sizer machine has been demonstrated.
Fibers of a Lycra® spandex/2GT blend (Lycra® spandex/2GT blend fiber containing 10% 10 denier Lycra® and 90% 150 denier Dacron® polyester, made by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Wilmington, Del.)) were treated with caustic as described in Example 1. The treated fibers were then passed through a chitosan solution in a single-end sizer as in Example 9.
Cotton yarn (having a yarn count of 30/1cc, commercially available from Parkdale Mills, Inc. (Gastonia, N.C.)), Soft White® 24 acrylic yarn ( 1/24 worsted count with a 1½″ cut, 100% open end spun yarn that has been waxed, made by Amital Spinning Corporation (New Bern, N.C.)), and Tactel® nylon 66 (30 denier yarn (commercially available from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del.) were treated with caustic as described in Example 1. The treated fibers were then passed through a chitosan solution in a single end sizer as in Example 9.
Sontara® wipes comprising a 1:1 polyester/rayon nonwoven blend (commercially available from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. (Wilmington, Del.) were treated as in Example 1, one sample with only the caustic treatment described therein and one with the complete chitosan grafting treatment. The antimicrobial effect of the chitosan grafting treatment versus E coli ATCC 25922 is seen in
Sontara® wipes comprising a 1:1 polyester/wood pulp nonwoven blend (commercially available from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del.) were treated as in Example 1, one sample with only the caustic treatment described therein and one with the complete chitosan grafting treatment. The antimicrobial effect of the chitosan grafting treatment versus E. coli ATCC 25922 is seen in
2GT fiber (150–200 g, 229 g) was passed at a rate of about 8 m/min through a series of solution trays containing, in turn, 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide, 1.0 M aqueous hydrochloric acid, and water. Excess solution was then stripped from the fiber with a sponge. The fiber was then dried by wrapping around a drum heated to about 130° C. The fiber was then wound using a tension winder followed by heat setting the fiber at 160° C. by wrapping around a heated roller at that temperature and winding at a speed at 60 m/min. Yield of the fiber was 218.7 g, a loss of 4.5 weight percent. This procedure demonstrates the hydrolysis conditions that cause weight loss of the fiber. The process resulted in the formation of carboxyl groups on the surface of the fiber as evidenced from the dying of the fiber with a blue dye specific for acidic groups.
2GT fiber (150–200 g) was passed at a rate of about 8 m/min through a series of solution trays containing, in turn, 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide, 1.0 M aqueous hydrochloric acid, water, and a solution of chitosan (Chitoclear®, Primex Ingredients, Norway) in 1% aqueous acetic acid. The concentration of chitosan varied from 0.25 to 2 weight percent, as shown in Table 1. Excess solution was then stripped from the fiber with a sponge. The fiber was dried by wrapping around a drum heated to about 130° C. The fiber was then wound using a tension winder followed by heat setting of the fiber at 160° C. by wrapping around a heated roller at that temperature and winding at a speed at 60 m/min. In each case, the chitosan-treated fiber was tested with Orange II dye, and the orange color indicated chitosan was present on the surface of the fiber. A portion of fiber that had been treated with a 2% chitosan solution was made into a fabric and dyed with Orange II dye. The intense orange color indicated that chitosan was present at the surface of the fabric.
TABLE 2
Chitosan
Initial
Final
Weight
Concentration
Example
Weight (g)
Weight (g)
Change (%)
(weight %)
Surface
229
218.7
−4.5
0
primed
only
−4.5
14
207
231
11.6
2
15
141
154
9.2
1.5
16
165
174
5.5
1
17
119
133
11.8
0.5
18
216
237
9.7
0.25
2GT/3GT bicomponent fiber from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Wilmington, Del.) was passed at a rate of about 8 m/min through a series of solution trays containing, in turn, 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide, 1.0 M aqueous hydrochloric acid, water, and a solution of 0.25% chitosan (Chitoclear®, Primex Ingredients ASA, Norway) in 1% aqueous acetic acid. This was followed by stripping the excess solution in the fiber with a sponge. The fiber was dried by wrapping around a drum heated to about 130° C. The fiber was then wound using a tension winder followed by heat setting of the fiber at 160° C. by wrapping around a heated roller at that temperature and winding at a speed at 60 m/min. Two samples were taken from different part of the fiber and submitted for antimicrobial evaluation. The antimicrobial effect of the chitosan grafting treatment versus E coli ATCC 25922 is seen in
Sabesan, Subramaniam, Joerger, Melissa C., Koniz, Ronald F., Pennias, John
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